The 80 Percent Rule

(How does mental and physical energy get used?)

From this article, you may discover how you become tired when trying to make the most of everything you do. It is not so much that you are inefficient in what you do, but that you may be inefficient in how much you try to do some things which do not have to be perfect.  This is a sense I have developed over time.

"X of energy" is a term used to describe how much mental or physical energy you put into a project.

The first X of energy will accomplish 80% of the work in a project. 1X=80%

The second X of energy will accomplish 80% of the remainder of the project. 2X=96%

The third X of energy will accomplish 80% of the remainder of the project. 3X=99.2%

The fourth X of energy will accomplish 80% of the remainder of the project. 4X=99.84%

The fifth X of energy will accomplish 80% of the remainder of the project. 5X=99.968%

Getting a 96 is an A in most grading systems. Getting an 80 is a low B.

In terms of $100 dollar projects:

If you put in 5X toward its perfection, you will earn $99.97 (a high A, but not perfect).

If you put 2X into two projects and 1X into a third you will earn ($96+$96+$80) $272

(2 A’s and a B).

Where is the economy of perfection in most areas of life?